Dodgers 12 14 2
Cubs 2 8 0
WP- Billingsley (2-1)
LP- Coleman (1-1)
HR- Uribe (2), Thames (2)
On a cold afternoon, the Dodgers pick up their third win in a row with plenty of offense and a nice pitching performance by Chad Billingsley.
The first two innings were pretty routine, but the flurry of Dodger offense came in the third inning off Coleman. Carroll doubles, Blaker singles him over to third, and then Ethier singles to center extending his Major League leading streak to 19 games and scoring Carroll on the play making it 1-0 Dodgers. Uribe, busting out of his slump, singles into center allowing Blake to score and giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead. Loney walks loading the bases up. Jerry Sands walks with the bases loaded bringing in Ethier, 3-0. A.J. Ellis continues the base hit party, and he singles in both Uribe and Loney giving the Dodgers another two runs, 5-0. Chad Billingsley doesn't want to feel left out, and he promptly singles into left field scoring Sands and giving the Dodgers a commanding 6-0 lead. Yes, they were all singles and walks, but at least they were singles with men on base.
Coleman only goes 2.2 innings, allowing 6 hits, 6 runs, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts.
In the top of the fourth inning Matt Kemp walks, and Uribe homers to left field adding another two runs to the Dodgers lead, 8-0. In the bottom of the inning, the Cubs finally get a hit off Billingsley when Ramirez singles. Pena walks, and Ramirez goes to third on a force out by Byrd. While Soriano is at the plate, Ellis allows a passed ball and Ramirez scores, 8-1.
In the fifth inning, Ellis for some ridiculous reason decides to try to steal second base after walking in a 8-1 game. Well, he is out by a mile. I stress the fact that neither Ellis nor Big Rod have any reason to attempt to steal a base under most conditions. In the bottom of the inning Carroll commits an error when he can't handle Darwin Barney's (wow what a bad name) ball.
In the sixth, the Dodgers get three walks in a row to Blake, Ethier, and Kemp to load the bases. Blake scores on a sac fly by Uribe, 9-1. In the bottom of the inning Marlon Byrd triples to left field. Sands has a little trouble fielding the ball when it rolls all the way into the corner by the ivy. Tis ok, it's his first time playing in Wrigley Field.
In the bottom of the 7th, Billingsley gets into a little trouble. Blake Dewitt, former Dodger now trying to channel some beard power, singles. Fukodome singles. Barney singles allowing Dewitt to score, 9-2. Honeycutt visits the mound to talk to Bills. Castro singles, and Bills trips over him while he's trying to cover first base. Kenley Jansen then comes in to take over and gets the last two outs to end the inning.
Billingsley goes 6.1 innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts.
Jansen strikes out the side in the 8th. He's looking better than in his previous games.
The Dodgers are not done scoring yet, folks! In the 9th, Marcos Mateo comes in to pitch for the Cubbies. Loney uncharacteristically singles, but Sands grounds into a double play. Ellis comes up with his second single. Marcus Thames then proceeds to come in to pinch hit and crushes a 2 run homer giving the Dodgers an astonishing 11-2 lead. More singles ensue with Carroll and Blake both hitting another. Tony Gwynn Jr. feels left out, and singles in Carroll making it 12-2.
Frighteningly Lance Cormier is called in to pitch the bottom of the ninth. Is a 10 run lead against the Cubs enough for Cormier not to blow it? He gets DeWitt to ground out, gives up a single to Fukodome, strikes out Barney, but then Castro reaches on a Blake brain fart error. Cormier manages to get the last out without allowing a run.
Let's hope the Dodgers have saved a few signature singles for tomorrow's game. Carroll, Blake, Uribe, and Ellis all had 2 hit games. The Dodgers now are 1 game over .500. Ted Lilly will go up against Ryan Dempster in an early 10:05 morning game tomorrow.
It was nice to see the offensive explosion. I hope they can keep this up.
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